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(No Model.)

J. A. MQOAWLEY.

SNAP HOOK.

No. 581,250. 1 PgtentedApr.Z0,l897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL ALEXANDER MCCAl/VLEY, OF CANTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO G. W. COBB, OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 581,250, dated April 20, 1897.

Application filed December 9, 1896. Serial No. 615,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL ALEXANDER Mo- CAWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Trigg and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Snap-Hook, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to snap-hooks, and particularly to that class formed of a single piece of spring-wire; and the objectsare to form asnap-hook of this character which shall be stronger than those now in use when formed of substantially the same-sized wire, which shall be provided with means to prevent the accidental disengagement of a ring therefrom, and which shall be provided with means to prevent the body of the hook from slipping or turning between the thumb and fingers during the operation of opening and closing the jaws. These desirable objects are attained by means of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of opening the jaws. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the hook connected to a ring, and Fig. 3 is a side View thereof.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

In the manufacture of my snap-hook a piece of wire of the desired size, length, and resiliency is bent centrally to form a straploop 1. This loop may be formed either as a closed loop composed of two strands of Wire, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or as an open loop formed of a single strand, as shown in full lines in said figure. The two free ends of the wire are then extended to form the two side members 2 2, each having an outwardlyextending eye 3 3. These eyes serve a Very useful purpose in that they prevent the hook from slipping or turning within the hand during operation. The two strands are extended forward from the eyes to the point 4, where they cross and are bent into oppositely-disposed jaws or loops 5 5, lying side by side. The terminal ends of the wire are then oppositely bent inward, as at 6 6, to form braces or reinforcements for the jaws of the hook. It will be noticed that these braces or reinforcements 6 lie just in the rear of thelargest portion of each jaw and form stops to prevent the hooks or jaws from moving laterally on each'other when the snap-hook is closed.

In wire snap-hooks as at present constructed, in which the terminal ends of the 0ppositely-disposed jaws lie flat against the companion member, the ring is very liable to accidental disengagement when pushed backward beyond the terminal 'ends and then pulled outward, especially when the hook is accidentally thrown into substantially the same plane with the ring. The reinforcements or braces 6 form guards against the accidental disconnection of the ring from the hook. Moreover, these reinforcements add material strength to the hook and permit smaller wire to be used in the production of a hook of given strength than those now in use having plain terminal ends.

In snap-hooks made of comparativelysmall wire there is a tendency of the hook to slip or turn within the hand when made of plain round wire without projections. The oppositely-disposed eyes 3 in my hook give sufficient area to serve as a hold for the thumb and fingers of the hand and thus serve a useful purpose.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may beresorted to So without departing from the spirit or sacrific ing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A snap-hook consisting of a single piece of spring metal doubled to form a loop, and having the terminals oppositely curved to form hook-shaped jaws lying side by side and having their ends bent at an angle to form stops, said stops being located at the outer o sides of the jaws and holding the same against lateral movement on each other when the snap hook is closed, substantially as described.

2. A snap-hook formed from a single length 5 of spring-wire and-consisting of the strap-loop 1, the outwardly-extending eyes 3, and the oppositely-disposed jaws 5 having the opposite inwardly extended reinforcements 6, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOEL ALEXANDER MGGAWLEY.

IOO

Witnesses:

A. C. OEIsP, J. H. LACKAY. 

